2008 Chrysler Aspen 4X4

VEHICLE ENGAGES 4WD LO AND 4WD ON IT'S OWN AT ANY TIME. DRIVING THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS AT THE TRANSFER CASE ENGAGES AUTOMATICALLY WHILE DRIVING. I CAN ALSO HEAR 4WD ENGAGING WHILE LOCKING THE VEHCILE WITH THE KEY FOB. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE ON THE INTERNET AND I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF STORIES OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. DODGE/CHRYSLER WILL REPLACE THE TRANSFER CASE MOTOR WHICH TEMPORARILY ALLEVIATES THE ISSUE. THE PROBLEM IS ELECTRICAL AND DANGEROUS. AT THE VERY LEAST, THIS PROBLEM CAN DESTORY A DIFFERENTIAL AND IN THE WORST CASE, CAUSE A VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL ON A HIGHWAY/MOTORWAY. THIS ISSUE IS PREVALENT IN DODGE DURANGO AND CHRYSLER ASPEN VEHICLES.

I BEGAN ACCELERATING ONTO A RAMP TO ENTER ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND MY ASPEN COMPLETELY LOSS ALL POWER SUDDENLY. THE ENGINE JUST SHUT DOWN INCLUDING POWER ALL ELECTRONICS. I HAD TO LET THE CAR GLIDE TO THE SHOULDER, PUT IT IN PARK AND RESTART THE CAR, WHICH IT STARED AS IT ALWAYS HAS. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE NOR DID IT HAPPEN AGAIN. I HAD THE CAR CHECKED OUT AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. BEING THAT THIS HAPPENED WHILE ENTERING A BUSY HIGHWAY, A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED.

NOISE AND JERK (SOMETIMES PRETTY VIOLENT) DURING ACCELERATION AFTER SLOWING DOWN. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY CHECKED U-JOINTS (OK) AND SAID THE DIFFERENTIAL SEAL WAS LEAKING AND NUT HAD BACKED OFF.....TIGHTENED NUT AND REPLACED SEAL. STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH NOISE/JERKING. THEY SAY IT IS STILL A DIFFERENTIAL PROBLEM AND WE ARE TRYING TO GET THE EXTENDED WARRANTOR (FIDELITY) TO AGREE TO PAY BEFORE WE FIX SINCE IT WILL BE OVER $1200 TO FIX. I FEEL THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT WE RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE DIFFERENTIAL IN OUR 2005 DODGE RAM. CHRYSLER SHOULD LOOK AT THIS. *TR

THE 4WD STARTED TO ENGAGE WITHOUT BEING SWITCHED AND WITH NO INDICATION ON THE INSTRUMENTATION PANEL. VEHICLE GOES INTO 4X4 ON ITS OWN. WHEN WE MAKE A SHARP TURN GOING FORWARD OR BACKING...THE REAR TIRES LOCK UP. THE SVC 4 WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF SPORADICALLY. I CAN ALSO HEAR IT SWITCH BACK AND FORTH UNDER THE CAR EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OFF. PERIODICALLY WHEN YOU SWITCH THE DIAL OVER TO 4LO OR 4X4 LOCK THE SVC 4WD LIGHT JUST FLICKERS OFF AND ON. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER ASPEN 4X4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE WALL OF THE GARAGE. THE CONTACT THEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED BACKWARD, CRASHING INTO THE HOME A SECOND TIME WITH ONE HALF OF THE VEHICLE PENETRATING THE HOUSE. THE VEHICLE STRUCK A CHILD AND CAUSED INJURIES TO BOTH OF THE CHILD'S LEGS. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.